Wedding Bell Beauty

By Danielle Schlass Saliman
August 11, 2008

‘Tis the prime “I Do” season for many women and what better time than now to reflect on my own August 2003 wedding. I spent so much of January through July of that year making sure the centerpieces would be just right, that I forgot to even bring deodorant with me to the reception hall on the big day. When I perused my wedding album yesterday, I got a little teary-eyed. Make no mistake, I wasn’t being emotional, I was upset remembering how quickly my makeup wore off, my hair fell down and my pits sweat up a storm, thank goodness we did the posed pictures first (and that my 2-and-a-half-year old looked at them with me and called me a “princess”). My “expert” advice to any bride-to-be: take 5 minutes to plan a good beauty routine, make a checklist of what you need, and heed some expert advice below so that you look, feel, and well, let’s face it, smell good on your big day. After all, you will have those pictures, I mean memories, for a lifetime!

Considering Color:

What ever you decide to do for your big day, a change of hair color can be one of the great ideas, but do not make it a drastic one before big event like your wedding, says David Evangelista, celeb stylist and owner of David Evangelista at Cornelia in NYC, the last thing you want is for your hair to be the something blue!

And do not look to the stars for ideas: “Always consider your skin tone before choosing a new color because not everyone can get away with trying multiple shades like celebrities, says Evangelista.  When visiting your colorist, try identifying words  when describing the shade you want like reds including copper, mahogany, plum, strawberry, red-gold or red-brown, brunette including richer chocolate, dark honey, deep amber, caramel. And after you spend a fortune to get the color right, make sure to invest in a top-notch shampoo and conditioner that are made for color-treated hair. I love Rene Furterer Okara Protect Color Protective Radiance Shampoo and Conditioner.  It protects and extends the life of color by up to 70-80 percent.

Makeup know-how:

Whether you hired a makeup artist or you plan on doing it yourself, some things you must consider before application, so that you don’t see your photos six months from the day and don’t wonder, “who invited Bozo the Clown? And why is he in my dress?” Start with a fleshed-out palette. Flash photography emphasizes pink tones, says makeup maven Bobbi Brown, so be sure to even-out skin with a yellow-toned foundation. Start around the nose and mouth where there’s redness, then blend out to the rest of the face.  Celebrity makeup artist, Sue Devitt advices you steer clear of trendy makeup colors on your eyes. “Use classic colors, ones you feel good in, that accentuate your eye color.” Shades of antique lilac, soft pinks and creams look amazing on the eyes and they add a romantic touch, adds Devitt. Try a sheer ivory or white under the brow-bone as a highlighter, while the eye base should have a soft pink color (I love the Sue Devitt Silky sheen in Madrid). The complementary color should be a lilac and a light silver, for a touch of glamour.

The skin you are in:

I woke up in a panic almost every day for 3 months before my wedding after a recurring nightmare: wedding day PIMPLES! Plan a skin-care regimen in advance, and you shouldn’t have the same fears. “The early summer months tend to be among the busiest times in my office with all of my patients who will be brides wanting quick-fix skin solutions before their big day, “ says NYC dermatologist Dr. Jeffrey Dover. “Most of them become so wrapped-up with the whirlwind of wedding planning that they neglect to take care of their biggest beauty benefit–their skin” His advice? Cleanse, treat, and prevent, daily. “As long as you are using a good cleanser every morning and night, a daily moisturizer appropriate for your skin type and wear an SPF (at least 15) everyday, your skin should be clear and looking healthy.” This is also the time to address any specific skin issues such as facial redness and acne. I love Dr. Brandt Lineless Gel Cleanser which is an anti-inflammatory cleanser filled with antioxidants, and Dr. Dover suggests Skin Effects Acne Cleansing Mask   to help unclog pores and remove impurities from the skin. It will also help in preventing any future breakouts from occurring.

Customize!

The one time to really spend some thought (and big bucks!) on your makeup and its application is for what I like to call,” the fateful day your look goes down in history.” Three Custom Color Specialists is the place to go when you want to make sure you get the right colors for you.  You can either stop in to their color studio in downtown NYC and hire them on the spot to do your wedding day makeup or use their handy website which will give you product tips and color recommendations specifically tailored to you.

Tame your tresses:

You know how you want it to look, you’ve done your trials and made sure the hair flows with the gown and fits with the veil, but more than anything, you need to be able to keep it looking the same and in-place all evening. Eliut Rivera, owner of New York’s  Salon Eliut Rivera Recommends Big Sexy Hair Spray to keep your "do" in place all night. Wearing your hair in a bun? Rivera says get your hands on some Kerastase Vinyle Nutri-Sculpt Shine Cream, great for the classic bun. For fly-away hairs use Kerastase Luminere Nutri-Sculpt which can be used throughout the day to tame fly-aways pre-photos and for touch-ups as needed as it won't build-up, says Rivera.

For emergencies:

If your makeup artist gets a flat tire on the way or you just want extra makeup to be handy for you or your bridesmaids, invest in a Bobbi Brown bridal kit. Made with the bride and her party in mind, it features the must-have wedding makeup basics including an ivory eye shadow, long-wear eyeliner, no smudge mascara, a pink shimmer gloss.

Beauty where you’d least expect it:

Let the ring bearer, bear something more than just rings: I love this  Gold ‘N Dulcea milk and honey, caramel, golden musk and sweet pea scented pillow made just for your rings .

Christian Lacroix Spring Water

Drink Up! Besides any champagne you may be absorbing, you’re gonna want to stay hydrated throughout the very, very busy evening, so instead of lifting an ugly old bottle of water, tote along a few Limited Edition Bottles of Evian Natural Spring Water “wedding-day-ready” by Christian Lacroix (who knows wedding couture as he closes all of his fashion shows with a model dressed as a bride). The limited edition bottle is adorned with a coppiced lace pattern, which provides the bottle with a classic frosted feel while the curved lines within the design give the bottle a soft, inviting feel that looks almost like a bottle of bubbly—it makes a perfect wedding keepsake.